Nora Martin, Author at 91 /blog/author/noramartin/ Prep for Success Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:51:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://assets.testinnovators.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/favicon-85x85.png Nora Martin, Author at 91 /blog/author/noramartin/ 32 32 ISEE Top Tips /blog/isee-top-tips/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:57:08 +0000 /?p=4100 Remember to take your practice exams in calm, non-distracting settings, get adequate sleep (especially the few nights before your test), and relax and breathe, both as your prepare and on test day.

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ISEE Pacing:

Efficient pacing is one of the most important skills to master on the ISEE. While different questions may take more or less time to answer, avoid spending more than a couple of minutes on any single question (unless you’re done with all the others). When writing the essay, it’s essential to learn how to outline and write out four to five paragraphs in 30 minutes; hence, practice is critical!

The ISEE Essay:

The ISEE essay is not graded, but it is sent to the schools that you’re applying to. Choose appropriate essay content, understanding that the school’s admissions department is your audience. What will they learn about you through your writing?

Guessing on the ISEE:

There’s no penalty for guessing on the ISEE; bubble-in a lettered answer for every question, even if you don’t have time to read the question. If you flag a question to come back to later, you should still mark an answer in the event that you do return in time to review the question.

Levels of the ISEE:

Each level of the ISEE is taken by multiple grades (for example, the Upper Level test is taken by 8th-11th graders). Since the test is designed to challenge students across several grades, it’s completely normal to come across unfamiliar topics—however, with preparation, you can learn many new math concepts and vocabulary words before test day.

ISEE Strategies:

Spend some time learning test-taking strategies. For example, read non-math questions and come up with an answer before reviewing the listed answer choices. Many wrong answers are tempting and may trick you—first decide what you are looking for in a correct answer.

Practice How You Want to Perform

Remember to take your timed practice exams in calm, non-distracting settings. Get adequate sleep (especially the few nights before your test), and relax and breathe, both as you prepare and on test day.

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on May 12, 2014. Updated on January 30, 2026.

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]]> How Is the ISEE Essay Graded? /blog/how-is-the-isee-essay-graded/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 21:03:00 +0000 /?p=4138 Many of my students ask me how the ISEE essay is graded. I answer: It is not “graded” but rather sent to the schools to which you apply.

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If your student is preparing for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), you’ve probably heard of the essay section and wondered how it’s scored. Unlike the multiple-choice sections, the ISEE essay doesn’t receive a numerical score. So, how is it evaluated, and what is it used for? Here’s everything you need to know about the ISEE essay, how it’s reviewed, and why it’s still important.

What Is the ISEE Essay?

The ISEE essay is a 30-minute section that asks students to respond to a written prompt, typically posed as a question or statement. The prompt usually encourages a personal, reflective, or persuasive response. Students are expected to write a well-organized, thoughtful essay with clear ideas and correct grammar and punctuation.

Note: This section appears on all levels of the ISEE (Lower, Middle, and Upper).

Is the ISEE Essay Scored?

Technically, no. The ISEE essay is not given a numerical or letter grade like the rest of the test. It is not included in your student’s scaled scores or percentiles.

What Do Schools Look For?

Even though it’s not scored, the essay is sent directly to the schools your student is applying to. Admissions teams read the essay to:

  • Assess writing ability
    • Admissions staff use the essay to gauge a student’s writing skills under timed conditions, including organization, clarity, grammar, and style.
  • Understand student voice and personality
    • The essay gives insight into how a student thinks and expresses themselves, helping schools get a fuller picture of applicants beyond test scores.
  • Compare with application essays
    • If a school also requires a personal statement, admissions officers may compare it to the ISEE essay to ensure consistency and confirm the work is authentically the student’s.
  • Evaluate independent thinking
    • Since the ISEE essay is completed without assistance, it reflects how students write and organize their thoughts on their own.

How Can Students Prepare?

Since the essay is timed, preparation can make a big difference. Here are a few helpful tips:

  • Practice with sample prompts to get used to writing quickly
  • Plan before writing by taking a few minutes to outline ideas
  • Leave time to check for grammar and punctuation errors

Final Thoughts

While the ISEE essay isn’t scored, it still matters in the admissions process. It offers students a chance to make a strong impression and demonstrate their writing ability, and provides schools the resources to understand the applicant pool more holistically. A clear and thoughtful essay can support the rest of the application and help schools get to know the student better. Start preparing for the ISEE essay today!

Be sure to check out our practice tests, essay prompts, and more at

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on April 20, 2020. Updated on June 12, 2025

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]]> 5 Tips for a Perfect Exam Day /blog/5-tips-for-a-perfect-exam-day/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:43:01 +0000 /?p=4131 Here are five great tips to help you do your best on exam day.

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‘Twas the night before your big test… Follow these five tips for a great test day!

  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
    Hydration supports cognitive function by improving concentration and memory. Research has even shown that . So make sure you’re well hydrated going into the exam and take water with you.

  2. Pack the night before.
    Pack your things the night before so that you don’t forget anything important. Some common things to pack include a water bottle, a snack, your admissions ticket, and a few pencils. Be sure to reference your test registration information to know what to bring (and what not to).

  3. Go to sleep on time.
    Getting enough sleep is crucial for memory and function. As tempting as it may be, sleep is more beneficial than staying up to cram, so put down your study materials and get some rest!

  4. Eat a nutritious breakfast.
    Your brain is a muscle that needs energy to perform at its best, and the best way to fuel your brain is with healthy foods. Even if you don’t usually eat breakfast, it’s a good idea to eat before an exam. Ideally, choose protein-rich foods, like eggs, yogurt, and cottage cheese, and whole grains like whole wheat toast and oatmeal. Avoid refined sugars and excess caffeine, as they can lead to anxiety and crashes later on during the exam.

  5. Trust yourself!
    Ideally, you’ve been preparing for weeks or months at this point. However, even if you’ve only been preparing for a few days, worrying about being unprepared won’t be helpful. Regardless of how prepared you’re feeling heading into the exam, remember to trust yourself. You probably know more than you think!

Remember that one test does not define you, and that there are often opportunities to take the test again. Be confident in yourself—you’ve got this!

We wish you the best of luck!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on March 22nd, 2014. Updated on August 28th, 2024.

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]]> ISEE Verbal Reasoning /blog/isee-verbal-reasoning/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:33:28 +0000 /?p=4065 The Verbal Reasoning section of the ISEE is designed to assess vocabulary, including the ability to identify synonyms and complete sentences with missing parts.  Fast Facts First and shortest section of the ISEE Lower Level: 20 minutes with 34 questions  Middle and Upper Levels: 20 minutes with 40 questions Made up of two question types […]

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The Verbal Reasoning section of the ISEE is designed to assess vocabulary, including the ability to identify synonyms and complete sentences with missing parts.

Fast Facts

  • First and shortest section of the ISEE
    • Lower Level: 20 minutes with 34 questions
    • Middle and Upper Levels: 20 minutes with 40 questions
  • Made up of two question types
    • Synonym questions
    • Sentence completion questions
  • All questions types are multiple-choice

Question Types

Synonym

Synonym questions require you to look at a given word and decide which of the four answer choices mostly closely resembles the meaning of that word. Take a look at the example problem below. The correct answer is in bold.

  • SUCCINCT:
  1. Successful
  2. Brief
  3. Doubtful
  4. Haphazard

Sentence Completion

For the sentence completion questions, you are provided with a sentence that includes a blank, and it’s your job to decide which answer choice best completes the sentence.

It’s important to note that the sentence completion question types vary slightly by level. Lower Level students are expected to answer questions with an entire phrase missing in addition to questions with only a single word missing. Upper Level students are given sentences that include both one and two blanks.

Below are example question for all three types of sentence completions. The correct answers are bold.

  • One-blank (found on every level)
    The textbooks were so well written, organized, and illustrated that the students found them quite ____.

    A. agreeable
    B. confusing
    C. humorous
    D. daunting
  • Two-blank (found only on Upper Level)
    Despite the exceedingly early hour of the class, the students were as ____ and ____ as in the afternoon.

    A. fair . . . presumptuous
    B. mundane . . . vivacious
    C. loud . . . rambunctious
    D. muscled . . . concerned
  • Phrase-blank (found only on Lower Level)
    While many of Mr. Walter’s neighbors found him to be gruff and inconsiderate, ______.

    A. he was adored by the neighborhood children.
    B. he often refused to speak to them.
    C. he rarely left his home.
    D. he never volunteered to host the neighborhood block party.

Study Strategies

Study your vocabulary. When it comes to the Verbal Reasoning section, you can never know too many words! Spending just 10-15 minutes each day studying vocabulary can lead to incredible results.

  • Flashcards are a great way to study vocabulary, especially when you’re on the go. Take your flashcards with you wherever you go, so that you can sneak in a few words on your ride to school, while you’re waiting at the dentist office, or any other time that you have a few spare minutes.
  • Virtual flashcards are a fun way to study vocabulary. We put together interactive Quizlet sets that you can access for free here.

Study root words

Studying root words can help you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words and draw connections between them on test day. Check out our to get started.

Testing Strategies

Come up with your own answer first. After you read the question, try to think of your own answer before looking at the answer choices. This will prevent you from being swayed by incorrect options.

Break unfamiliar words apart. If you encounter a word that you’ve never seen before, try breaking it down into smaller parts. Knowing common roots, prefixes, and suffixes can help you determine the meaning of a word, even if it’s brand new to you.

Be sure to check out How to Ace the Verbal Reasoning Section of the ISEE for additional tips and more in-depth explanations. If you’re looking for a challenge, you can also try to solve one of the hardest ISEE Verbal Reasoning problems.

Interested in learning about the other sections of the ISEE? Check these posts!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on August 7th, 2014. Updated on September 5th, 2024.

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]]> ISEE Reading Comprehension /blog/isee-reading-comprehension-2/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:22:08 +0000 /?p=4057 The goal of the ISEE Reading Comprehension section is to test students’ ability to read and analyze information found in a given passage within a limited timeframe. The thought of reading with a time limit can be intimidating, so we’re here to summarize the format and question types you can expect to see on the […]

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The goal of the ISEE Reading Comprehension section is to test students’ ability to read and analyze information found in a given passage within a limited timeframe. The thought of reading with a time limit can be intimidating, so we’re here to summarize the format and question types you can expect to see on the Reading Comprehension section of the ISEE.

Fast Facts

  • Third section of the ISEE
    • Lower Level: 25 minutes with 25 questions
      • 5 reading passages with 5 questions each
    • Middle and Upper Levels: 35 minutes with 36 questions
      • 6 reading passages with 6 questions each
  • Six question types
    • Main Idea
    • Supporting Idea
    • Inference
    • Vocabulary in Context
    • Tone/Style/Figurative Language
    • Organization/Logic

Question Types

Students read a short passage before answering questions based on the information that they just read. There are a wide variety of question types that students can expect to see in the Reading Comprehension section, so we’ve included examples for each question type.

Main Idea

  • The primary purpose of the passage is to…
  • The passage is primarily concerned with…

Supporting Idea

  • According to the passage, medieval pageants and festivals for the poor were appealing because they…

Inference

  • The passage suggests that loyalty to a king rather than to a lord had which advantage?
  • What probably led the author to experiment with garden peas?

Vocabulary in Context

  • In line 4, “minute” probably means…
  • In line 6, “pundits” probably means…

Tone/Style/Figurative Language

  • The author’s tone when discussing the media can best be described as…
  • The mood of the first paragraph (lines 1-10) can best be described as…

Organization/Logic

  • Which best describes the organization of lines 8-17?
  • The sentence “I so admired Rosie’s courage and resourcefulness that we became friends of the heart,” (lines 24-26) is included in order to…

Test-Taking Strategies

Find your evidence. It is crucial to remember that the answer to every question can be found within the passage. Try to view reading comprehension like a mystery; as a detective, it’s your job to pick up on the clues that will lead you to the right answer.

Come up with your own answer first. After you read the question, try to think of your own answer before looking at the answer choices. This will prevent you from being swayed by incorrect options.

Focus on the passage’s main idea. Try to take notes and underline important information while reading the passage. You can save yourself valuable time by summarizing what you’re reading as you go.

Interested in learning about the other sections of the ISEE? Check out our section-specific blog posts!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on August 18th, 2014. Updated on September 5th, 2024.

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]]> ISEE Quantitative Reasoning /blog/isee-quantitative-reasoning/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:16:25 +0000 /?p=4078 The Quantitative Reasoning section of the ISEE tests mathematical reasoning abilities, which means that the questions often don’t require significant calculation and instead can be solved with numerical and logical reasoning.  Fast Facts Second section of the ISEE Lower Level: 35 minutes with 38 questions all word problems Middle and Upper Levels: 35 minutes with […]

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The Quantitative Reasoning section of the ISEE tests mathematical reasoning abilities, which means that the questions often don’t require significant calculation and instead can be solved with numerical and logical reasoning.

Fast Facts

  • Second section of the ISEE
    • Lower Level: 35 minutes with 38 questions
      • all word problems
    • Middle and Upper Levels: 35 minutes with 37 questions
      • 20 word problems and 17 quantitative comparison questions
  • One of two math sections
  • Two question types that focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills
    • Word problems
    • Quantitative comparison questions

Question Types

The Quantitative Reasoning section covers content across multiple subjects, including:

  • Numbers and Operations
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Measurements
  • Data Analysis and Probability
  • Problem Solving

On the Lower Level ISEE, theQuantitative Reasoning section only contains word problems. On the Middle and Upper Levels, there are both word problems and quantitative comparisons questions.

You will find example problems for both question types below. The correct answers are bold.

Word Problems
Students are asked to use their knowledge to solve a problem. The vast majority of word problems can be solved without calculations of any kind.

  • For a school project, Sabrina is collecting data on the cars she sees in the school parking lot. She has to list, in categories or groups, what she observes.

    Sabrina’s Observation List:
    1. Color of car: white, gray, black, brown, red, blue, etc.
    2. Type of car: sedan, truck, mini-van, convertible, etc.
    3. ?

    Which information best completes Sabrina’s observation list?

    A. Size of wheels
    B. Number of doors
    C. Company that built the car
    D. First character on the license plate

Quantitative Comparisons
Students evaluate two different values and determine the relationship between them. All quantitative comparison questions have the same four answer choices that see you below.

Column A Column B
1/2 of 60 1/2 of 100

A. The quantity in Column A is greater.
B. The quantity in Column B is greater.
C. The two quantities are equal.
D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Test-Taking Strategies

Read carefully. Make sure you understand exactly what the question is asking you to do. One of the most common mistakes students make on the ISEE is misreading questions, so take the time to read slowly and underline important information that you find in the problem.

Work backwards. For many questions, the best jumping off point is in the answers. If you’re working with an unknown quantity, you can substitute the answer choices in to find which is correct. We recommend starting with the middle answer choice to limit the number of answers you need to substitute!

Use estimation. Before you start to solve a problem, try to come up with what you think the answer might generally be first. Are we looking for a positive or a negative number? Will it be bigger or smaller than the other numbers included in the problem? Should it be a fraction, a decimal, or a whole number?

Interested in learning about the other sections of the ISEE? Check out these posts!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on July 9th, 2014. Updated on September 5th, 2024.

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]]> ISEE Mathematics Achievement /blog/isee-mathematics-achievement/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:05:30 +0000 /?p=4073 The Mathematics Achievement (MA) section of the ISEE Test is intended to reflect curriculum related questions, in contrast to the Quantitative Reasoning section which is intended to measure students’ reasoning abilities.

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The Mathematics Achievement section of the ISEE tests students’ knowledge of the math they’ve learned at school.

Fast Facts

  • Fourth and longest section of the ISEE
    • Lower Level: 30 minutes with 30 questions
    • Middle and Upper Levels: 40 minutes with 47 questions
  • One of two math sections

The first math section is the Quantitative Reasoning section.

Question Types

Students are presented with questions that focus on specific math content and skills that are taught in school. The subjects covered on the Mathematics Achievement section, however, are the same as the Quantitative Reasoning section. These include:

  • Numbers and Operations
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Measurements
  • Data Analysis and Probability
  • Problem Solving

There are a wide variety of problems in the Mathematics Achievement section, so we’ve included one example problem for each of the three levels below. The correct answers are bold.

  • Lower Level example

    What is the area of a rectangle with a length of 15 centimeters and a width of 25 centimeters? (A = lw)

    A. 40 centimeters²
    B. 355 centimeters²
    C. 365 centimeters²
    D. 375 centimeters²

  • Middle Level example

    116.8 ÷ 4 = ?

    A. 26.2
    B. 27.2
    C. 28.2
    D. 29.2

  • Upper Level example

    Which inequality describes all values of 𝑥 for which |2𝑥 – 5| < 3?

    A. 𝑥 > 1
    B. 𝑥 > 4
    C. 1 < 𝑥 < 4
    D. -1 < 𝑥 < 4

Test-Taking Strategies

Read carefully. Ensure you fully understand what the question is asking. A common mistake on the ISEE is misreading the question, so take your time, read thoroughly, and highlight key details in the problem.

Use the process of elimination. For many problems, starting with the answer choices can be helpful. If you’re dealing with an unknown value, try substituting the options to see which one works. Begin with the middle choice to reduce the number of potential substitutions.

Estimate first. Before diving into solving, try to predict a general range for the answer. Are you expecting a positive or negative result? Should the answer be larger or smaller than the numbers in the problem? Will it be a fraction, decimal, or whole number?

Interested in learning about the other sections of the ISEE? Check out our section-specific blog posts!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on July 23rd, 2014. Updated on September 5th, 2024.

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]]> SSAT Vocabulary: How to Master the SSAT’s Verbal Section /blog/mastering-the-ssats-vocabulary/ Thu, 15 Sep 2022 21:59:00 +0000 /?p=4014 Start at least 6 months before your test date Not only are there a lot of words to learn, but giving yourself time to practice and use the SSAT vocabulary words you are learning will help their definitions stay with you.

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Start as soon as possible. Not only are there a lot of words to learn, but giving yourself time to practice and use the SSAT vocabulary words you are learning will help their definitions stay with you.

Take verbal practice sections, and complete verbal Practice Exercises.Every verbal section on will help you learn SSAT vocab words, as well as practice the act of recalling words in a timed setting. When you go back to review your answers, reinforce your memory by writing out each word and definition in list form. Review the list and rewrite words you struggle to remember. Handwriting these words facilitates remembering better than typing! For further study, our Practice Exercises include hundreds of additional verbal questions, as well as a supplemental list of words to know for the SSAT.

Make flashcards.Write each vocab word on one side of an index card, with the definition on the other side (one word/definition per card). Organize the flashcards in a stack with the definition side facing down and the word side facing up. Look at each word and then try to recall the definition. Go through the entire stack, one at a time, throughout the day. Parents can also quiz the students on their flashcards. Repetition is very important, so practice the flashcards throughout the day (every day). As another option for memorization, flip the cards with the definition side up, read the definition first, and then try to recall the word. Don’t forget to shuffle the deck each time to randomize their order.

Use Mnemonics.Mnemonic devices are tricks used to memorize words. A mnemonic may be a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something. It can be an image, a formula, a rhyme—anything other than the word itself. With mnemonics, you’ll memorize words permanently, with little effort. The more bizarre the image or rhyme you can create the better; your brain will remember the “crazy” stuff more readily. Below are five mnemonic examples of vocab words:

Vocab Word Definition Mnemonic Word in a Sentence
abase
to lower or degrade
The baseball player tripped over a base marker and humiliated himself.
He abased his colleague by criticizing him in front of his boss.
fabricate
to construct or manufacture; to tell a lie
I ate fabric… do you believe it?
She fabricated a story so they would not find out the truth.
cursory
to the point and brief
They tend to curse when they want to get straight to the point.
She took a cursory peek at the email and came to a decision.
malevolent
desiring harm to be done to others
Violent males are usually malevolent.
The criminal demonstrated his malevolent intentions by smiling when the policeman was knocked down.
boon
a blessing or gift
To pirates, booty is a boon.
The manager’s decision to give Jill a raise was a boon to her life.

Learn Some Roots.Sometimes you can figure out the meanings of words by looking at their root words. Here’s a list of the 28 of the most common word roots that’ll help students puzzle out the meanings of unfamiliar SSAT words:

Word Root Meaning SSAT Vocab Words
ante
before
antebellum, antediluvian
anti
against
antithesis, antipathy, antiseptic
auto
self
autocratic
bene
good, well
benefactor, benevolent, benediction
chron
time
anachronism, asynchronous
circum
around
circumnavigate, circumference, circumlocution, circumvent, circumscribe
con, com
with, together
convene, concatenate, conjoin, companionable
contra, counter
against
contradict, counteract, contravene
cred
to believe
credo, credible, credence, credulity, incredulous
dict
to speak
verdict, malediction, dictate, dictum, indict
dis
not
disperse, dissuade, distemper, disarray, disjointed
equi
equal
equidistant, equilateral, equilibrium, equinox, equitable, equanimity
ex, e
out, away
emit, enervate, excise, extirpate, expunge, exonerate, exacerbate
flu, flux
flow
effluence, effluvium, fluctuate, confluence
hyper
above, over
hyperbolic, hypertonic, hyperactive
in, im
not
inviolate, innocuous, intractable, impregnable, impermeable, impervious
inter
between
intermittent, introvert, interdict, interrogate
mal
bad
malformation, maladjusted, dismal, malady, malcontent, malfeasance
multi
many
multitude, multivalent
neo
new
neologism, neophyte
omni
all
omnipotent, omnivorous, omniscient
per
through
persuade, impervious, persistent, persecute
sanct
holy
sanctify, sanctuary, sanction, sanctimonious, sacrosanct
scrib, script
to write
inscription, prescribe, proscribe, ascribe, conscript, scribble, scribe
spect
to look
circumspect, retrospect, prospect, spectacle, aspect
tract
to drag, to draw
protract, detract, intractable
trans
across
transduce, intransigent
vert
to turn
extrovert, introvert

The earlier you start to study vocabulary, the more words you are likely to retain and the more you will be excited to take on the SSAT Verbal section. And wonderfully, the words you learn will assist you in middle school, high school, and beyond!

Find all of our SSAT practice materials at!

Start preparing today!

HSPT
PSAT
ACT
SAT

Originally published on April 6, 2015. Updated on September 15, 2022.

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]]> Video: How to Succeed on the SSAT /blog/new-video-how-to-succeed-on-the-ssat/ Thu, 15 Oct 2015 14:07:00 +0000 /?p=4149 See how our SSAT practice system helps students around the world achieve admission to their top-choice schools.

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See how our SSAT practice system helps students around the world achieve admission to their top-choice schools.

Get started with your test prep today!

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]]> How to Succeed on the SSAT: Part II /blog/how-to-succeed-on-the-ssat-part-ii/ Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:24:00 +0000 /?p=4120 The first thing to know for the Middle or Upper level SSAT is when to guess. You need to understand each question well enough to be able to cross off at least one answer choice. Otherwise, omit the question as there is a ¼ point guessing penalty.

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General Tips

When to Guess

The first thing to know for the Middle or Upper level SSAT iswhen to guess. You need to understand each question well enough to be able to cross off at least one answer choice. Otherwise, omit the question as there is a ¼ point guessing penalty.

How to Bubble (if you’re taking the test on paper)

Bubble-in Separately

Unless you are running out of time in a section, we recommend bubbling in a whole page in your test booklet and THEN giving all your attention to properly bubbling in your answer sheet. You must give your whole attention to each number to ensure that you bubble-in the letter you have chosen for question 8 into the bubble for question 8, etc. In test prep weagain and againsee students who miss points by inaccurately bubbling. In fact, ALMOST ALL students do this at some point in prep: create good habits so you do not inaccurately bubble on the real exam!

Quantitative Sections

Write down and reread

When reading SSAT math problems, underline and write down important information. Write down your calculations. After you’ve decided on an answer, brieflyrereadthe problem before bubbling your answer.

Using Answer Choices

You will often use answer choices to solve the trickiest SSAT math problems. However, note how wrong answers choices are made by test writers: wrong answers are often common calculation errors or mistakes. For example, if a word problem requires 3 steps to complete, it is likely that after 2 steps, your partial answer will be one of the wrong answer choices. If you see it there and forget torereadthe problem, you may pick it and move on!

Possible Solutions

Note that some tricky SSAT problems present a scenario and then ask you which of the answer choices is apossiblesolution. The word POSSIBLE is important here because sometimes the correct answer is not necessarily the most obvious possible solution. The problem may simply not mention the obvious answer in its answer choices. So before you assume that there is an error with the exam or simply omit the question, check to see if you can find other, less obvious possible solutions.

Confidence and Creativity

Solving the most difficult math problems on any standardized test will likely require confidence, as some may appear foreign. Breathe and invite in your creativity. While creativity can harm you in Reading Comprehension (don’t be creative, just go back to the passage!), in math, creativity allows you to playfully approach unfamiliar problems. Depending on your experience, it is possible that there are SSAT math problems for which you do not “know the math” (for these, omit!). However, for many questions you may know enough math but be intimidated by a strange presentation, phrasing, or diagram. So for tricky math problems, until you give up and omit them, assume you know enough and approach them as puzzles. What could the question mean or be asking? How can you apply the concepts you know? Find all of our SSAT practice materials atSSATpracticetest.com!

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